Biography

NoteCARDS:

The Cardinals third-round pick (69th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft out of LSU, Mathieu has appeared in 50 games (41 starts) in his first four NFL seasons. He has 227 tackles, three sacks, nine INTs (1 returned for TD), 39 passes defensed, a fumble recovery and three forced fumbles in his career.

Signed a contract extension on 8/2/16 that will keep him with the team through the 2021 season.

Returning from a knee injury that ended his 2015 campaign, Mathieu started all 10 games he appeared in during the 2016 season before a shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve. Totaled 36 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, an INT, three passes defensed and a forced fumble.

In 2015 was named first-team All-Pro at safety and was selected to his first Pro Bowl after registering 89 tackles, a sack, five INTs (one returned for TD), 16 passes defensed and a forced fumble in 14 games. Suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 15 at Philadelphia.

Has been named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (October of ’13), NFC Defensive Player of the Month (November of ’15) and NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 3 of ’15) in his career. Joins Kwamie Lassiter (November of 2001) as the only players in franchise history to be named Defensive Player of the Month.

Named the Cardinals Ed Block Courage Award Winner in 2014 following his return from a knee injury suffered late in his rookie season in 2013.

Started 11 of 13 games played as a rookie in 2013 and recorded 63 tackles, a sack, two INTs, 15 passes defensed, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a special teams tackle. Earned first-team All-Pro honors from ProFootballFocus.com as a slot cornerback and was named to the All-Rookie team by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

NoteCARDS:

The Cardinals third-round pick (69th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft out of LSU, Mathieu has appeared in 50 games (41 starts) in his first four NFL seasons. He has 227 tackles, three sacks, nine INTs (1 returned for TD), 39 passes defensed, a fumble recovery and three forced fumbles in his career.

Signed a contract extension on 8/2/16 that will keep him with the team through the 2021 season.

Returning from a knee injury that ended his 2015 campaign, Mathieu started all 10 games he appeared in during the 2016 season before a shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve. Totaled 36 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, an INT, three passes defensed and a forced fumble.

In 2015 was named first-team All-Pro at safety and was selected to his first Pro Bowl after registering 89 tackles, a sack, five INTs (one returned for TD), 16 passes defensed and a forced fumble in 14 games. Suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 15 at Philadelphia.

Has been named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (October of ’13), NFC Defensive Player of the Month (November of ’15) and NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 3 of ’15) in his career. Joins Kwamie Lassiter (November of 2001) as the only players in franchise history to be named Defensive Player of the Month.

Named the Cardinals Ed Block Courage Award Winner in 2014 following his return from a knee injury suffered late in his rookie season in 2013.

Started 11 of 13 games played as a rookie in 2013 and recorded 63 tackles, a sack, two INTs, 15 passes defensed, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a special teams tackle. Earned first-team All-Pro honors from ProFootballFocus.com as a slot cornerback and was named to the All-Rookie team by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

Pro Career: The Cardinals third-round selection (69th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft, Mathieu played in 50 games (41 starts) in his first four seasons. Selected to the Pro Bowl and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2015. Signed a contract extension on 8/2/16 that will keep him with the Cardinals through the 2021 season.

2016: After being selected as a defensive captain for the first time in his career, started 10 games and had 36 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one INT, three passes defensed and a forced fumble … missed four games with a shoulder injury in second half of the season and was placed on injured reserve in Week 16 … returned from an ACL injury suffered in Week 15 in 2015 and had seven solo tackles, including one for loss, in season opener vs. NE (9/11) … forced a fumble in the fourth quarter and had four unassisted tackles @ Buf (9/25) … led team with six solo tackles and recorded first INT of the season in fourth quarter vs. NYJ (10/17); also had two passes defensed … collected one tackle @ Car (10/30); left game in the first half with shoulder injury … inactive (shoulder) the next two games … returned to the lineup and had an 11-yard sack of Matt Ryan in the third quarter @ Atl (11/27); also had two tackles, one for loss, and a pass defensed … inactive (shoulder) the next two games … totaled six tackles vs. NO (12/18) … placed on injured reserve (shoulder) on 12/23.

2015: Started the first 14 games before suffering season-ending right knee injury … tied for the team lead with a career-high five INTs and led the Cardinals with 16 passes defensed … ranked third on the team with a career-best 89 tackles … also had 11 tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble, three QB pressures and one QB hit … selected to Pro Bowl for the first time, becoming the seventh safety in franchise history to earn Pro Bowl honors … earned first-team AP All-Pro and PFWA All-NFL honors … named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November, his first career Player of the Month honor; became just second player in team history to win Defensive Player of the Month (Kwamie Lassiter, November 2001) … registered a team-leading eight solo tackles vs. NO (9/13); also had a career-best three passes defensed and a tackle for loss … recorded career-high two INTs and his first NFL TD vs. SF (9/27); picked off Colin Kaepernick on 49ers second possession of the game and returned it 33 yards for a TD; then intercepted Kaepernick in the second quarter and his 17-yard return helped set up a FG before halftime; added five solo tackles, including one for loss, and had a team-leading two passes defensed; named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career … forced a fumble in the third quarter and totaled six solo tackles and a pass defensed vs. StL (10/4) … had seven solo tackles, tying for the team lead with three tackles for loss vs. Bal (10/26); also had a nine-yard sack of Joe Flacco in the fourth quarter to force a punt; broke up a potential TD pass to Chris Givens in the second quarter … intercepted Russell Wilson in the third quarter and returned it 24 yards to help set up a FG @ Sea (11/15); third INT of the season, setting a new career high; also had six tackles and a team-high three passes defensed … collected fourth INT of the year when he picked off Blaine Gabbert in the first quarter @ SF (11/29); also led the team with a career-high 13 tackles, including one for loss, and had two passes defensed … posted a team-high 11 tackles, including one for loss vs. Min (12/10); also had a pass defensed and two QB pressures … picked off a Sam Bradford pass in the fourth quarter for his fifth INT of the season and also had five tackles and a pass defensed @ Phi (12/20); suffered right knee injury in fourth quarter on the INT … placed on injured reserve on 12/22.

2014: Returned after season-ending knee injury in 2013 to play 13 games (six starts) and collected 39 tackles, one INT, one fumble recovery and five passes defensed … also had two tackles for loss and two QB hits … inactive (knee) vs. SD (9/8) … recorded six solo tackles in just 15 snaps on defense vs. SF (9/21) … made first start of the season and collected four tackles, one pass defensed, a fumble recovery and a QB hit vs. Was (10/12); recovered Andre Roberts fumble in the fourth quarter and his nine-yard return helped set up a FG that gave Cardinals a 23-13 lead; marked first career fumble recovery … recorded four solo tackles and two passes defensed vs. Phi (10/26); saw increased action at nickel CB spot after Patrick Peterson left the game injured in the second quarter … picked off a Brandon Weeden pass intended for Jason Witten in the third quarter with the Cowboys in the red zone and Cardinals holding a 14-10 lead @ Dal (11/2); marked his third career INT; also had five tackles and a pass defensed … had three tackles @ Atl (11/30); left in the first half with a thumb injury … inactive (thumb) vs. KC (12/7) and @ StL (12/11) … returned and notched five solo tackles vs. Sea (12/21) … recorded one tackle in Wild Card game @ Car (1/3/15).

2013: Played in 13 games with 11 starts before suffering a season-ending left knee injury … finished fifth on the team with 63 tackles and 15 passes defensed … had two INTs, one sack and one forced fumble, making him one of three rookies in the NFL to have at least two INTs, a sack and a forced fumble … named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for October … also had four tackles for loss, three QB pressures, one QB hit and one special teams tackle … made his NFL debut and forced a Jared Cook fumble in the first quarter @ StL (9/8); chased Cook down inside the 10 as he was going in for a score and knocked the ball loose for Karlos Dansby to recover in the end zone for a touchback; led the DBs with five solo tackles and added one pass defensed … made first career start vs. Det (9/15) and sealed the victory for AZ when he tackled Nate Burleson one yard short of a first down on 4th-n-4 on the Lions final possession of the game; totaled six tackles, including one for loss, and had two passes defensed … in his return to his hometown, recorded his first career INT by picking off Drew Brees in the end zone during the third quarter @ NO (9/22); led the DBs with a season-high eight solo tackles and added one pass defensed … started in place of the injured Rashad Johnson and collected five unassisted tackles and two QB pressures @ TB (9/29) … started for the second straight game and notched his first career sack, taking down Cam Newton in the second quarter to force a punt vs. Car (10/6); added five tackles, one pass defensed and one QB hit … collected one of the Cardinals four INTs of Matt Ryan vs. Atl (10/27); marked his second INT of the season; tied for the lead among the DBs with seven tackles and added two passes defensed … led the DBs with seven tackles and had one pass defensed vs. Hou (11/10) … had one solo tackle and one pass defensed vs. StL (12/8) before leaving the game in the third quarter with a left knee injury suffered returning a free kick following a safety … placed on injured reserve (knee) on 12/10.

College: Appeared in 26 games (14 starts) at LSU, totaling 133 tackles, six sacks, 16 tackles for loss and four QB pressures … recorded nine passes defensed, four INTs, eight fumble recoveries and established a school career-record and tied the SEC all-time mark with 11 forced fumbles … served as the team’s punt returner in 2011, totaling 27 returns for 421 yards and two TDs … a consensus All-American and unanimous All-SEC first-team preseason selection as a junior in 2012, was dismissed from the team on 8/10 during fall camp … as a sophomore in 2011, was the recipient of the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player and was a Heisman Trophy finalist; was the first LSU Heisman finalist invited to New York since Charles Alexander in 1977; was also the first DB invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony since Michigan’s Charles Woodson won the award in 1997 … started all 13 games he appeared in and was a unanimous All-America first-team choice after posting 76 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and three QB pressures … named a team captain … ranked sixth in the nation with six forced fumbles and third with five fumble recoveries, two of which he returned for TDs … gained 16 yards on two INTs and added nine passes defensed … ranked second in SEC and fourth in the nation as he returned 27 punts for 421 yards (15.6 avg.) and two TDs … named the SEC Championship Game MVP vs. Georgia after he returned a punt 62 yards for a TD; finished with 119 return yards, posted four solo tackles and a fumble recovery; became just the second player to return a punt for a TD in the game’s history and the first defensive player to win the MVP award since 1994 … as a true freshman in 2010, was named the 2011 Cotton Bowl Defensive Most Outstanding Player, adding first-team freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association and was selected for the SEC All-Freshman team by the league’s coaches … serving as a reserve CB behind All-American Patrick Peterson on the right side and as the nickel back, played in all 13 games with one start at left CB vs. Louisiana-Monroe ... ranked first in the SEC and fifth nationally with five forced fumbles and tied for first in the conference with three fumble recoveries ... led the team with seven passes defensed and was fourth on the Tigers with 57 tackles, while adding 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two INTs … earned Cotton Bowl Defensive Most Outstanding Player award after recording seven tackles, one tackle for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, an INT, a sack, and one pass defensed.

Personal: Name pronounced ‘TY-run’ (like Byron) ‘Matthew’ … attended St. Augustine (New Orleans, LA) High School where he was regarded as one of the premier DB prospects in the state … rated as the 13th-best CB in the nation by Rivals.com, Mathieu was named to the New Orleans Times-Picayune 2010 Blue-Chip List, the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen and the Mobile Press Register Super Southeast 120 as a senior ... also received Super Prep All-America honors after he recorded 32 tackles, five INTs, a sack and a fumble recovery as a senior … concluded prep career participating in the inaugural Team USA vs. The World game … in November of 2016, made a $1 million donation to LSU for the Football Operations Center nicknamed “Honey Badger” and to establish a scholarship at the school … Sports Administration major.